Former UT player Vinson faces Knox County probation violation

Vinson

Photo by UTSports.com

Vinson

Charles Austin Corn

Charles Austin Corn

KNOXVILLE - A violation of probation warrant has been issued against a former University of Tennessee football standout awaiting extradition in Alabama to face accessory to murder charges in connection with a marijuana dealer's shooting death in Knoxville last May.

Court records show that Brent Vinson hasn't paid any court costs or fines and has failed to show up for the past two hearings set in a misdemeanor pot possession case for which he had received diversion. If Vinson had not run afoul of the law and had met his court obligations in the case, he would have been eligible under diversion to have the case erased from his record.

Now, however, prosecutors are seeking to revoke his probation and take away his diversion status.

The pot charge and violation warrant are the least of Vinson's legal woes, though.

He is in a jail in Lauderdale County, Ala., awaiting extradition on charges of accessory to murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the May 2009 shooting death of Charles Austin Corn, a 23-year-old UT student who was alleged by police to be a major marijuana supplier in Knoxville.

Vinson was at Corn's Spruce Ridge Way apartment in South Knoxville when Corn was shot in what police said was a robbery. The Knoxville Police Department initially classified Vinson and fellow UT student Kinder Cole Tuckwiller, also 23, as witnesses.

No one has been charged as the triggerman in Corn's slaying.

Tuckwiller was robbed of his pot stash the day before Corn was shot. Former UT basketball player Ramar Smith and UT student Kaoun Kaihani face charges in Tuckwiller's case.

Vinson, a defensive back, was dismissed from the UT football team late last year by then-coach Lane Kiffin.

The marijuana possession charge was filed against Vinson in October 2008 after Knoxville police found a bag of the illegal weed in his shoe after a traffic stop on Gallaher View Road.

Then-coach Phillip Fulmer suspended Vinson for a game against South Carolina for an unspecified violation of team rules. It was his third suspension of the season. Vinson wasn’t allowed to make the trip to UCLA for the season opener because of offseason academic shortcomings. He was also suspended for part of the Northern Illinois game after showing up late to a team meeting.

U.S. marshals who arrested Vinson in Alabama said he had moved there in hopes of enrolling at the University of North Alabama and joining the football team there.

Get Copyright Permissions © 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!

© 2010 govolsxtra.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

  • Discuss
  • Print

Related Stories

Comments » 39

FearTheVols1252 writes:

Ahhh... more wasted talent!

RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:

He deserves prison! Words of wisdom for Mr Vinson when they lock you up, don't drop the soap!

AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:

Dang so you don't say! LK actually did something right by getting rid of this thuG?

VolAlum2003 (Inactive) writes:

So...Vinson has been charged with accessory after the fact, BUT police haven't charged anyone with the murder. So, how do police know that Vinson aided and abetted the killer IF they don't know who the killer is??? (that was a rhetorical question)

It looks like Vinson knows who the actual killer is, but he isn't turning the evidence over to police...which means that he must be scared of whoever murdered Corn (who is said to have trafficked in large amounts of marijuana shipped in from the West Coast). He also got out of Knoxville in a hurry and ran to North Alabama, completely ignoring Knoxville court dates and reporting requirements. I hope that Knoxville PD have gotten the Feds involved with this because it seems like they are probably in over their heads. This whole thing stinks of Knoxville street gangs and the Mexican cartels.

pj_ladyvolnMI writes:

Oh Brent, Brent, Brent...

RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:

Probably some bad news people involved in this. Hope this isn't more UT football players! If so at least Dooley is a lawyer, that might come in handy!

HollySpringsVOL writes:

It looks like the charges are leverage to make him give up what he knows. Help yourself, because no one else will. Be an adult. Do the right thing. Assist Corn's family have some closure by helping to bring to justice their son's killer.

RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:

In the drug world, a snitch can become a dead man.

AllVols writes:

I feel bad for him, sort of. He wants to play football; therefore, he seems driven to achieve something in his life. On the other hand, he is an idiot for not abiding by his court obligations. Honestly, how hard does a rock have to hit you in the head before you get a clue?

In response to the accessory for murder charges, wow. He can only save himself by telling the truth.

volsoutlaw writes:

So where is all the people that were screaming he was innocent and we should all give him a second chance?

Seems like for someone that wants a second chance and goes on the radio claiming he was done wrong, he's not doing much to prove his credibility. I guess ignorance is bliss

volsoutlaw writes:

in response to Ellison_Vol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

They put in you jail for mooning a female person hanging out in the football teams shower room? Or I'm sorry was in the bus incident? Either way, no one was harmed by Mr. Mannings butt cheeks...

RCVOLIN10 writes:

in response to Ellison_Vol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Hey dummy, Peyton mooned a crowd of people. How is that assault?

volsoutlaw writes:

in response to hughjorgan1:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Ignorance= death or prison

Let's make sure the facts are straight, drugs bad, but it's an inanimate object. Therefore it would require an idiot to use/hold/distribute.

tennrich1 writes:

in response to Ellison_Vol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Hey boys we must be doing something right to have folks saying these jr highish things...

byrd4vols writes:

You should hook up with Tyler and get some tatoos on your face.

byrd4vols writes:

Thugs like this hae no place in society. If you see this any other way, you are an idiot!

byrd4vols writes:

Vinson.......You were born to go to jail! (miracles)

byrd4vols writes:

Get this thug a box of rubbers asap!

send writes:

Report says Austin to lead Florida's defense

crimsonviper writes:

in response to Ellison_Vol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

You are a nut,and your drivel is old and tired.
Give it a rest Naffy.

roloyo writes:

What a POS!!!

johnlg00#206211 writes:

in response to Ellison_Vol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Too bad "rampant stupidity" isn't a crime carrying heavy jail time. You would be a lifer for sure! After all, you are an habitual offender on here.

chrisw2967 writes:

in response to Ellison_Vol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Peyton told me to ask you , hows your wife and his kid ?

wvvolfan#270034 writes:

This site has turned into a regular police blotter...

LCfastball writes:

Move over Nuke and make room for Brent ! Birds of a feather.................. Does Coach Dooley work pro-bono cases ?

rootin4volz writes:

Just another hyphenate: dumb-azz student-athlete.

Stepchild_nFL writes:

in response to RoyaltyVol#280778:

Probably some bad news people involved in this. Hope this isn't more UT football players! If so at least Dooley is a lawyer, that might come in handy!

That's right. Our coach is a lawyer. Could not be a better fit. Good job Hammy.

cabazap#208870 writes:

Mexican Cartels?
That's just funny... Some athletes robbed a guy of his pot because he supposedly ripped them off... Ramar Smith, thinking he is some sort of kingpin leads the whole thing, and Vinson played the lackey. They decide to rob Corn too, he won't have any of it and gets shot.

I knew the guy, he wasn't the sort to get involved with any sort of street gangs or cartels... any connection to a producer would likely be about 6 degrees away.

uglydog5230#233820 writes:

in response to Ellison_Vol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Wow! You say Peyton Manning has no class and that he should be in jail for an assault, for mooning someone! Then you call Brent a "HERO"! You must be smoking the same pot he was helping to to sell! He was busted several times for pot, he had his chance to get his life in order, but decided to run and be above the law! Throw him in jail and let him stay there! I cannot believe you call yourself a Tennessee fan!!!!!

smyrnavol writes:

in response to uglydog5230#233820:

Wow! You say Peyton Manning has no class and that he should be in jail for an assault, for mooning someone! Then you call Brent a "HERO"! You must be smoking the same pot he was helping to to sell! He was busted several times for pot, he had his chance to get his life in order, but decided to run and be above the law! Throw him in jail and let him stay there! I cannot believe you call yourself a Tennessee fan!!!!!

calm down. it's just naffy. naffy the ghost. he floats by every now and again.

tnaseevol writes:

JCJ1986 where are you? Just like to know...what's your take on this?

tnaseevol writes:

in response to Ellison_Vol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Wise up and smell the coffee. Did you actually mean hero or did you really mean THUG?

volfan232323 writes:

in response to Ellison_Vol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

johnnyvol writes:

Let's wash our hands,and move on down the road.

illinoisvolfan writes:

Good grief, if Fast Lane could detect a flaw in Vinson's character, how truly messed up is this young man? Hopefully, he can get his life under control.

Biggie writes:

Once the police discover the person killed was a dope dealer, they should say, "Case Closed" Let them kill each other off.

Tommy37363 writes:

in response to Ellison_Vol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Peyton DID NOT assault any trainer. You Ellison _Vol need to be banned from even making comments. You have NO CLUE.

Tommy37363 writes:

in response to VolAlum2003:

So...Vinson has been charged with accessory after the fact, BUT police haven't charged anyone with the murder. So, how do police know that Vinson aided and abetted the killer IF they don't know who the killer is??? (that was a rhetorical question)

It looks like Vinson knows who the actual killer is, but he isn't turning the evidence over to police...which means that he must be scared of whoever murdered Corn (who is said to have trafficked in large amounts of marijuana shipped in from the West Coast). He also got out of Knoxville in a hurry and ran to North Alabama, completely ignoring Knoxville court dates and reporting requirements. I hope that Knoxville PD have gotten the Feds involved with this because it seems like they are probably in over their heads. This whole thing stinks of Knoxville street gangs and the Mexican cartels.

Tony Basillio seems to think they will (are) putting the heat on Vinson to get him to " ROLL OVER" on Ramar Smith.

volsman85 writes:

in response to Ellison_Vol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Do some homework you idiot. Manning and Brees are are very close friends. The field after the SB is crazy. He just wanted Brees to have his day in the sun. Another Manning hater. I just can't figure out what there is to hate.

Share your thoughts

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Comments can be shared on Facebook and Yahoo!. Add both options by connecting your profiles.

Features